Sunderland have appointed Martin Bain as the club’s new chief executive officer.

Bain will join the Black Cats on July 1 from Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he has been chief executive since September 2014.

Prior to that, the 47-year-old spent six years in a similar role north of the Border with Glasgow Rangers before an acrimonious departure in 2012 after refusing to agree to the controversial - and ill-fated - sale of the club to Craig Whyte.

“With his commercial experience, commitment to working closely with local communities and impressive track record of building winning teams on and off the pitch, I know that we have someone that can take us forward.

“Martin will strive to transform our financial performances, which we acknowledge must improve significantly, into a stable and successful model, to give us a club that we and our fans can be proud of.

“In doing so, he will receive the full support of everyone at Sunderland AFC.”

Bain added said: “It is a great honour and privilege to become CEO at a club with Sunderland’s rich history and heritage.

“I have been fortunate to be a part of a team that has brought great success to two clubs with passionate supporter bases and I am excited by the opportunity to do the same at Sunderland.

“ Sunderland fans are recognised as some of the most loyal and passionate in football.

“The backing they gave the team in the two recent vital home games played an integral part in the victories.

“Such tremendous support deserves a successful club and that is what we will aim to give them.

“I am looking forward to working closely with the chairman and everyone involved with the club, and will endeavour to do everything possible to help the club to realise its potential.”

Bain was in charge at Rangers when the club won three successive Scottish Premier League titles, reached the final of the UEFA Cup , and were regulars in the Champions League and Europa League.

He was also a director of the Scottish Premier League.

During his time in Israel, Tel Aviv won the domestic treble in 2015 and qualified for the Champions League.

Bain was also a director of the Israeli Premier League, helping negotiate its biggest ever broadcast deal.

He steps into the role at Sunderland which has been vacant since Margaret Byrne resigned in March, after being criticised for her handling of the Adam Johnson court case.